10 Jul Revisit your Home

“There is nowhere to go today; I guess I will spend another uneventful day at home and probably go to sleep.”

“My weekend shall be spent in front of the Television or doing mindless chores.”

“Another weekend at home awaits me!”

These innocuous statements have been made by most of us at some time or the other, or have become our “go to” statement especially when faced with a “non-happening” weekend or holiday.

Most of us make one or more of these statements as candid or casual remarks.

However, these remarks are not as commonplace as we are inclined to believe. In fact, they reflect deeply on our state of mind and approach regarding our homes.

How so? One may very well inquire.

The answer may come as a surprising realisation!

We are not “at home” in our homes!!

Think about this statement. Think deeply.

Now, look around your home.

What is your home saying about you?

Take a moment to “interpret” your home by witnessing your surroundings as if you were a guest visiting this home for the first time. Revisit.

What does this home say about the person who lives there?

Do the objects you have chosen to surround yourself with reflect your interests, requirements, and habits? If the answer is yes, then go one step further, and ask yourself if you are happy with that reflection?

Your home is an outward manifestation of your inner experience — a reflection of yourself.

Look around your home.

What are your surroundings saying about you?

How you choose to live, how you furnish (or don’t), pictures and objects you display, and what you want to surround yourself with, tell others about who you are.

Everybody knows this but you.

How’s that as a moment of truth?

Your home tells your story, what you enjoy doing, how you’re feeling, and who you spend your time with.

Whether we’re aware of it or not, our homes are one of the few places where we have the personal, individual, creative and emotional freedom to express ourselves.

For example, if you’re feeling happy you may choose to decorate with brighter colours, buy fresh flowers, and open windows to allow sunlight and fresh air into your home.

If you’re sad, you may be less apt to clean, or you may close your curtains.

It may also be more specific — let’s say you love your profession, you may demonstrate that by displaying reminders of your work around your home.

Or perhaps you’ve been dreaming about a career change or taking a big vacation, and you have displayed objects that remind you of your new career or the place you’d like to visit.

Here’s the deal.

It’s so important to be aware of your surroundings because your home can influence your life. Just in the same way you influence your surroundings, your surroundings affect you.

For instance, imagine spending time in an environment where the curtains are closed, and it’s not clean. By being in that environment for a period, you will start to feel more depressed.

Then imagine walking into a sunny, bright, cheery room and how your mood would be uplifted.

Or perhaps you want to make a career change, but haven’t done anything to move that dream forward and had nothing in your home that reflects that desire. Imagine placing objects that represent your dream career around your house — chances are you will feel more motivated to take the steps necessary to make it happen if you’re reminded of your dream every day.

Once you understand the powerful influence your surroundings can have on your life, you can use this new awareness to arrange and decorate your home so that it supports you in creating the life you desire.

If you haven’t done so already, create a home that reflects your best self and highest aspirations.

As you design your home, you have the opportunity to create your life!

The idea is to bring your personality and life story into your surroundings and make your rooms reflect who you are. Your home should tell “your story” — not a decorator’s story — of your personal history, your background, your likes, interests, and hobbies.

None of us is picture-perfect. But all of us are unique. Your home is more than a physical structure of wood or stone; it is a spiritual temple where your true self, your inner beauty, and soul can feel at home.